Lunch box



July 14, 1925.

A. ROTZELL LUNCH BOX AlberlRo ATTORNEY Patented July 14,1925.

UNITED STATES ALBERT ROTZELL, OF STROUDSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LUNCH BOX.

Application filed May 28, 1924. Serial No. 716,418.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ROTZELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stroudsburg, in the county of Monroe and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Lunch Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lunch boxes.

The object is to improve the construction of lunch boxes and to provide a strong and durable device constructed to withstand rough usage, and having means within the same for compactly storing foods and liquids in a minimum amount of space and without interfering with each other.

Another object is to provide separate, removable means for holding pie or other dessert which serves to maintain the contents in undamaged condition, and which may be moved from end to end or removed therefrom to permit of access to the foods below the same.

A further object is to provide improved means for engaging and holding a vacuum or other bottle for containing beverages within the lid or cover of the lunch box in a manner to prevent the bottle from coming into contact with the dessert, said holding means being adjustable to receive bottles of different lengths. I

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved lunch box, the cover being thrown back to disclose the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view I through the cover and illustrating the means for holding the vacuum or other bottle, the view being drawn on a larger scale than Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View of the same, a portion of the box proper being lncluded.

F1gure 4 is an inverted plan view of the righg hand end of the subject matter of Figure J Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the slidable means for holding the neck or cap end of the bottle.

eferring to the drawing there is shown a metallic box 1 preferably formed of block tin or other suitable material, and preferably rectangular or oblong in plan, the bottom 2, s1des 3 and end walls 4 being formed and joined together in any suitable manner,

and having their adjacent corners reinforced by metallic angle members 5 to strengthen and protect the bottom from wear. The front and rear sides and the end walls are provided, near the top edges of the same with a continuous strengthening rib or bead 6, whlch not only serves to stiffen the same but acts as an abutment or ledge to contact with and support the lid or cover 7, When the latter is in closed position.

The cover 7 is similar in form to the box proper, and is slightly larger so as to close down over the same in a well-known manner and to rest on the aforesaid ledge 6, said cover being suitably hinged to the upper edge of the rear, long side wall 3. The cover is likewise provided around its open or free edges with a continuous strengthening bead 8, preferably formed by enclosing a stiffening wire, and adapted to prevent any bending or irregularities which would interfere with the closing of the cover. The four corners of the cover, adjacent to the said strengthening bead 8, are further reinforced by -metallic angles 9, and the upper part of said cover, when closed, is contracted by inclined side walls 10, thus providing an attractive domelike appearance and also providing a seat for the reception of a vacuum or other bottle 11.

Upstanding ears 12 are riveted or otherwise secured to the fiat top wall 13 of the cover, and said ears are adapted to have the ends of a handle or bail 14 pivotally con nected thereto for carrying the lunch box.

The front and rear sides 3 of the box are provided on their inner faces and near the top edges of the same with longitudinallydisposed metallic angles 15, providing rails or supports for a shallow tray 16 formed of similar metal and adapted to freely slide along from end to end of the box upon the Ito end walls, the end walls being provided with swinging bails 17, one at each end, for lifting the same out of the lunch box, when itis desired to ain access to the contents of the bottom 0 said box; The tray is designed especially to hold pie or other dessert, and bein of less length than the box may be move from end to end to permit of an inspection of the (lower portion of the box.

The cover is provided with a locking element 18, which is adapted to co-act'with a complementary element or member 19 car'- ried by the front wall of the box 1 at a central point just below the aforesaid bead or ledge 6, to be used for locking the cover over the lunch box when it is desired to carry the same by means of the handle 14, but since the locking device forms the subject matter of a companion application for patent, filed by me on even date herewith, no detailed description of the same is deemed necessary herein and no claim is made to the same.

One end wall 4 of the cover is provided with an arcuate supporting flange 20 which is adapted to receive and support the base end of the vacuum or other bottle 11, while the other end of said bottle having the usual screw cap 21 connected thereto, is adapted to be engaged by a pair of transverselyopposite spring arms 22 connected to a slidable plate 23, which is movable longitudinally of the cover in a uideway formed by spaced, angularly bent anges 24. The slidable mounting of the plate permits the arms to be moved into position to engage the cap or neck end of. bottles of different lengths in proper manner. The outer free ends of the resilient arms 22 are spaced apart, and have their terminals turned backwardly to provide an entrance opening 25 which may e used to forcethe cap or neck of the bottle through, and allowing the arms to snap over the same to retain the bottle in supported position when the cover is closed, or the said bottle may be alined with the spring arms and the plate slid along towards the bottle and slightly sprung apart to receive' the-end of the cap endwise between i the same, in a well-known manner. When the cover is raised and it is desired to remove the bottle for filling the same or using the contents, the neck end may be either forced from enga ement with the same by longitudinally sli ing the late carrying the arms towards the outer end of the cap.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a strong and durable and cheaply manufactured lunch box has been provided, which may be readily kept in a sanitary condition by simply removing the tray for washing or cleansing purposes; that the said tray serves to support and protect pie or other delicate desserts, etc., and prevent their contacting with other foods; that the bottle holding means readily holdsthe same from falling into the foods when the cover is closed and locked and readily receives or releases the said bottle; and that the lunch box may be readily transported by means of, the handle.

' What is claimed is:

1.7 A-lunch box comprising a body, a cover hinged thereto and adapted to contain a 7 bottle, an arcuate flange formed on the inner face of one end wall of the cover and adapted to support the base end of the bottle when the cover is closed, spaced longitudinally-disposed flanges formed on the underside of the cover at the'other end thereof,

said flanges having inturned ed es, a plate slidably mounted between the anges, and opposite spring arms carried by said plate and adapted to clamp the neck of the bottle and support .the same wholly within the cover when the latter is closed.

2. A lunch box comprising a body, a cover hinged thereto and adapted to contain a bottle, an arcuate flange formed on the inner face. of one end wall of the cover and adapted to support the base end of the bottle when the cover is closed, spaced longitudinally-disposed flanges formed on the underside of the cover at the other end thereof, said flanges having inturned edges to form guideways, a plate slidably mountedin said guideways, and transversely-alined spring arms carried by the plate and adapted to engage around the neck portion or cap of the bottle and support that end thereof, said arms having their free ends curved outwardly to facilitate the forced entrance of the same.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I

have hereto aflixed my slgnature.

ALBERT ROTZELL. 

